# Do I gotta pay twice?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [June 1, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335 "2015-06-01T13:45:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/1 "2015-06-01T13:45:53Z")

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So, I wanted to keep my Charter subscription but not my “Custom Title”. I paid my subscription for two years out.

But I keep getting these notices that I’m about to be a {{Shudder}} GUEST!

What’s the dope? Am I being blackmailed into also renewing my custom title?  
(bolding mine)

> [@](#):
>
> Dear BubbaDog,
> 
> Your access to the paid subscription “Custom Title Charter Subscription” is about to expire.
> 
> To renew this subscription you must visit [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/payments.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/payments.php)
> 
> **If you do not extend your subscription you will revert to Guest status.** As a Guest you’ll be shown banner advertising and will lose some of the privileges of your current membership status.
> 
> All the best,  
> Straight Dope Message Board

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/2 "2015-06-01T19:48:39Z")

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What does it say under your user control panel under paid subscriptions?

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**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/3 "2015-06-01T20:26:17Z")

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> [@BubbaDog](#):
>
> …
> 
> But I keep getting these notices that I’m about to be a {{Shudder}} GUEST!
> 
> …

Being a GUEST is not terminal any more. They have new treatments that makes it quite bearable actually. The days of losing your hair, becoming incontinent and needing Depends are long gone. Unfortunately, those treatments don’t work for ex-mods, and probably never will.

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**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/4 "2015-06-02T01:19:48Z")

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> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> What does it say under your user control panel under paid subscriptions?

CP says my membership is good for a few years. The title expires tomorrow.

But as you cans see from OP I am threatened with the death sentence of becoming a lowly guest.

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**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/5 "2015-06-04T13:06:10Z")

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Bumped just in case anyone else gets the "guest " threat for a title renewal.

Even though I received a notice that my membership would revert to guest if I didn’t renew my title subscription the hamsters have turned the proper levers and I am still a Charter Member, although one without a title. Fine by me.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-gotta-pay-twice/721335/6 "2015-06-05T16:11:20Z")

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Thanks for the update.

I guess the thing that sends out the notices isn’t smart enough to differentiate between your membership expiring and your custom title expiring.